"Good intentions die unless they are executed" and "Try to do all you can and make no fuss about it" were the words that greeted me in a text message from a friend early last Saturday morning which was celebrated as Emancipation Day.

The message got me sitting upright in bed thinking of the words uttered by my youth president, Lawman Lynch, of the Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum (KSAAF) in a July 25 youth meeting, which had as a focal point of discussion Jamaica's impending return to borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The message helped give shape to my maze of thoughts regarding the shared sacrifices which will be required if the deal goes through. But, even so, it brought to fore that our people are not usually committed to anything outside their personal interests, which are narrowly based on a pleasure-oriented and self-gratifying American lifestyle and culture.

Ian Boyne did an interesting job in his August 2 article 'Preparing for the IMF' by shifting focus from the often economic consequence by highlighting some of the social constructs to expect of the IMF. Boyne fleshed out the questions my president flung at me when I commented that there might be some obvious benefits, like the repealing of some anti-production, and pro-import consumption policies.

We are indeed going to have hardship, as there won't be enough money for social intervention programmes. The question on the table today is what are we doing to cushion this hardship?

I am, etc.,

LEETHAN GRANDISON

leethan.grandison@gmail.com

KSAAFA Youth Arm PRO

Kingston 7